Sand Mat Rush

SAND-MAT. (Stenophyllus)

In walking along railway tracks one may often find on the embankments a rich harvest of flowers that are less common elsewhere.

Even on the road-bed beneath the cars or in the sand between the tracks many sturdy little plants find place to grow and to mature seeds amid seemingly the most adverse conditions.

The Sand-mat (Stenophyllus capillaris) is one of the low-growing plants found in such locations, and between railway ties the tufts of dark green thread-like stems capped with blackish green spikelets are frequently common.

The plant also grows in moister places but wherever it is found it is always low and slender, rarely a foot in height, and usually rising but a few inches from the soil.